creeeeeeeekeeeeeet

[Worthy4England]

^^ Thought that might have been a record - joint - tied with the likes of Zimbabwe.

[Prufrock]

This is going to test the "no draws" rule....

[Worthy4England]

This is going to test the "no draws" rule....

I could certainly envisage it not being a draw!

[Prufrock]

In fairness, if they weren't them, India declare two hours earlier. Now they have to prove their full test match stones. Basically no-one out til the next new ball. Probably lose, but it's different..

[Worthy4England]

How's the weather looking!

[Worthy4England]

Certainly not a draw. What we were doing first innings with that array of ducks is beyond me. Lots of records this game, one of the more interesting ones maybe is Zak has the lowest average of any opener to pass 2,500 runs.

Gill, I think I read is the only batter to get a 250+ and a 150+ in the same test.

6 ducks was the lowest number of balls faced to get them...

[BWFC_Insane]

Certainly not a draw. What we were doing first innings with that array of ducks is beyond me. Lots of records this game, one of the more interesting ones maybe is Zak has the lowest average of any opener to pass 2,500 runs.

Gill, I think I read is the only batter to get a 250+ and a 150+ in the same test.

6 ducks was the lowest number of balls faced to get them...

Pitch was not that easy to bat on against the new ball. Except against our worthless bowling attack.

We scored almost 700 runs in the test and lost by over 300.

You don’t need to be a genius to know our bowling was atrocious. As it was the week before, covered up by a record breaking chase.

But hey it’s fine we are beginning back lads who haven’t played any proper cricket for years….be reet.

[Worthy4England]

Certainly not a draw. What we were doing first innings with that array of ducks is beyond me. Lots of records this game, one of the more interesting ones maybe is Zak has the lowest average of any opener to pass 2,500 runs.

Gill, I think I read is the only batter to get a 250+ and a 150+ in the same test.

6 ducks was the lowest number of balls faced to get them...

Pitch was not that easy to bat on against the new ball. Except against our worthless bowling attack.

We scored almost 700 runs in the test and lost by over 300.

You don’t need to be a genius to know our bowling was atrocious. As it was the week before, covered up by a record breaking chase.

But hey it’s fine we are beginning back lads who haven’t played any proper cricket for years….be reet.

I don't think our bowling is great, mate. I'm not sure how we magic some better bowlers up.

The first test, our 1st innings was nearly a match - 6 runs between the teams - which suggests they were par scores for reasonable batting, which considering they have Bumrah who is probably the class quickie between the two teams, isn't too shoddy.

Surrey scored 800 runs in one innings just 7 days earlier - we're not seeing a lot of "150 all out" wickets at the moment.

I do think we have too many problems with consistency in the bowling, but we were way below par in first innings, batting, too - best part of 200 short - which should have been in range with 2 scores of 150+ in the locker. 342 from 2 batsmen out of 407? Then we manage 271 in the fourth - but from 85-5.

[BWFC_Insane]

England struggling again. In fairness India have bowled exceptionally well. It’s just we can’t match their bowling - not a chance and I fear on this wicket there is a reasonable chance India could score big.

[Prufrock]

*taps the sign*

It's all pointless until both sides have batted on it.

[Worthy4England]

*taps the sign*

It's all pointless until both sides have batted on it.

It's a fair point, well made!

[BWFC_Insane]

Customary England collapse. Of course Bumrah is unplayable but that’s the difference between the two sides - their seam attack is way better than ours.

[Worthy4England]

Customary England collapse. Of course Bumrah is unplayable but that’s the difference between the two sides - their seam attack is way better than ours.

Jasprit is up there with the best, tbf.

[BWFC_Insane]

Customary England collapse. Of course Bumrah is unplayable but that’s the difference between the two sides - their seam attack is way better than ours.

Jasprit is up there with the best, tbf.

Yeah a brilliant bowler. We can’t be blamed for not having a brilliant one but we don’t even have a good one.

[Worthy4England]

Customary England collapse. Of course Bumrah is unplayable but that’s the difference between the two sides - their seam attack is way better than ours.

Jasprit is up there with the best, tbf.

Yeah a brilliant bowler. We can’t be blamed for not having a brilliant one but we don’t even have a good one.

We sorta have what we have, I think ideally you'd want a fit Wood and Jofra for Oz, with maybe Robinson, but they're all injurylawyers4u breakdown specialists.

[BWFC_Insane]

Customary England collapse. Of course Bumrah is unplayable but that’s the difference between the two sides - their seam attack is way better than ours.

Jasprit is up there with the best, tbf.

Yeah a brilliant bowler. We can’t be blamed for not having a brilliant one but we don’t even have a good one.

We sorta have what we have, I think ideally you'd want a fit Wood and Jofra for Oz, with maybe Robinson, but they're all injurylawyers4u breakdown specialists.

And Atkinson.

Even if they are all fit 100% (which won’t happen) they still aren’t good enough collectively.

[Worthy4England]

You can't magic up a bowling attack.

[Prufrock]

Strongly disagree anyway. If they're all fit it's a very good (seam) attack.

But it's no use because they're never fit. And I'm yet to be convinced on spin!

[Worthy4England]

I think it's just a "where we're at" thing, they're probably not as poor as they're being painted, but they're not stellar either. Welcome back Jofra! 19-1. Now wrap him up for 6 months!

[BWFC_Insane]

Strongly disagree anyway. If they're all fit it's a very good (seam) attack.

But it's no use because they're never fit. And I'm yet to be convinced on spin!

Even if they were fully fit I don’t think they are very good or even good. Wood and Archer are both inconsistent short spell quicks but lack the length and line control that I think is needed.

Gus is probably the one you’d say could be a consistent test bowler.

Carse is a 4th seamer type. Woakes…not sure what to say about him but has to look of a total trundler these days.

It’s sort of inevitable post Broad and Anderson - two of the greatest fast bowlers ever - that we’d struggle a bit but I think we are struggling partly because we didn’t really have a plan. We are just flirting round from one quick to the next. Yea we’ve had some injuries and I agree with Worthy that there is not a lot we can do - we have what we have.

But this side is not going to beat the better sides imo especially away from home. The ashes is more or less guaranteed to be a loss because we’ve not got a bowler I think really who comes close to their attack in those conditions. Indeed the weather this year is highlighting how without favourable conditions several of our bowlers are reminiscent of the attacks of the early 90’s.